TRUE PRINCIPLE OF THINNING. 73 



Each tree stands firm and independent of its fellow, 

 the lateral branches are retained until they have 

 performed their functions, they do not wind-whip each 

 other, but give support without dependence ; the 

 growth is rapid and uniform, and the trees being of 

 equal height, obtain their full share of light and heat. 

 Ill-grown, weak, deformed, or diseased trees have been 

 removed, and there is at once the appearance of 

 prosperous development, which to the landowner is 

 nothing more nor less than an accumulation of capital 

 or a silent influx of revenue. 



The great and true principle of thinning (and we 

 look upon the process as one of the most important in 

 forestry) is to encourage the growth of those trees 

 which are left, and not to secure a financial present 

 return. This, though important, is quite a secondary 

 consideration, and should at all times be ignored. Of 

 course, if the thinnings can be sold or made profitable 

 use of, so much the better. 



If, as is too often the case, the trees have been 

 planted too closely together, an early thinning 

 becomes absolutely essential ; and the thinnings, 

 except larch, will be of little value, which is a proof 

 of the waste in the first expenditure. Larch, as we 

 have before pointed out, may be sold for hop-poles in 

 some districts ; but this is almost the only exception. 

 In fact, too close planting is so unwise from every 

 point of view that its continual adoption points to 

 ignorance of the most dangerous type. Dangerous, 

 because it adds to the initial cost, and prevents to a 

 large extent the increase of expenditure of capital 

 in this most important branch of land improvement 



